Pain Management

Pets experience pain much as humans do. At Hope Veterinary Care, we take pain control very seriously. Whether it is managing chronic, ongoing pain or acute pain from an injury or surgery, we are dedicated to eliminating or reducing discomfort. Pain is very stressful for pets, perhaps even more so than for humans. This level of stress impedes healing, so we want to avoid pain both as an act of compassion and as a measure of good veterinary medicine.

Recognizing Pet Pain

The first step in addressing pain is to recognize it. Instinctively, dogs and cats hide pain, since in the wild this would have made them vulnerable. Signs can be subtle, but follow your instincts. A loving, attentive pet owner will often notice when something “isn’t right.”

Here are some signs that your pet is experiencing pain:

• Being unusually quiet, listless, restless, or less playful than normal
• Hiding (common with sick cats)
• Whining, whimpering, howling, or constantly meowing
• Biting or acting out of character (either aggressively or submissively)
• Constantly licking or chewing at a particular part of the body
• Flattening ears against the head
• Trouble sleeping or eating
• Seeking a lot more attention than usual
• Unable to get comfortable (constantly changing positions to find the most comfortable position) Pawing at the mouth or unusual drooling may signal mouth pain

We offer the following services to help manage your pet's pain: